WOLFBOX MegaVolt24 4000A Jump Starter!

[Tex]

Any oxygen produced during a lithium-ion battery fire would have to come from lithium reacting with water. According to the National Fire Protection Association (see link above) that doesn't happen with a lithium-ion battery fire.

Lithium batteries do not contain metallic lithium and therefore do not oxidize with water, a common misunderstanding but a misunderstanding nonetheless. These batteries contain lithium salts, and the lithium contained within is already oxidized, which makes them oxidizers in and of themselves and relatively nonreactive to water since it has no use for the oxygen in water like metallic lithium would. You can toss the lithium salts into water and nothing eventful will happen, unlike metallic lithium which puts on quite a show.

Oxygen is a necessary function of lithium batteries as they rely on redox (reduction and oxidation) reactions to store and discharge energy, and as such, oxygen is necessarily contained within. Lithium batteries will in fact combust in the vacuum of space given the right starting conditions, as they contain all the necessary ingredients of a fire....oxygen, fuel, and heat (when abused).

Mostly what you see in a lithium battery fire are the flames from the off-gassing of hydrocarbons formed as a result of thermal runaway heat decomposing the polymers and whatnot, but those aren't what you need to be concerned with...it's the underlying redox reaction taking place in the chemistry of the battery itself. It is similar to igniting thermite (itself a redox reaction) in a thick plastic container, the plastic will melt and catch fire, but the plastic portion of the fire isn't what you're worried about, it's the metal fire that's far more difficult to extinguish. You can put the hydrocarbon fire out with ease, but it'll just flare back up because you didn't do anything to the redox reaction happening within. The best way to extinguish a lithium battery fire is to reduce the temperature of the entire thing, as the same redox reactions that are causing the fire are also the same reactions that take place in normal controlled operation. Reduce the temperature and the reactions become less energetic, therefore, smothering and cooling the battery is often the most effective solution. You're not trying to remove oxygen or fuel from the equation, those are already involved and there's nothing you can to do remove them, rather, you're trying to remove heat from the equation...it's really the only variable you can control.

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[CalvinT]

The best way to extinguish a lithium battery fire is to reduce the temperature of the entire thing, as the same redox reactions that are causing the fire are also the same reactions that take place in normal controlled operation. Reduce the temperature and the reactions become less energetic, therefore, smothering and cooling the battery is often the most effective solution.

Just need to remove one side of the triangle.

I think that's what fire departments are doing with Tesla fires. Excellent explanation.

 

[Techun]

Well, unfortunately you're kind of just keeping it from spreading at best. Not worth the insane amount of water and effort to still not put out the fire of a real life ion fire.

I need to get myself a jump pack!

 

[Daniela at 3W Auto Life]

Well, unfortunately you're kind of just keeping it from spreading at best. Not worth the insane amount of water and effort to still not put out the fire of a real life ion fire.

I need to get myself a jump pack!

Try WOLFBOX MegaVolt24 Jump Starter with Lifetime Warranty. It won't let you down.

 

[Kinetic]

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